US4017039A - Vehicle transport pipeline pumping system - Google Patents

Vehicle transport pipeline pumping system Download PDF

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Publication number
US4017039A
US4017039A US05/545,339 US54533975A US4017039A US 4017039 A US4017039 A US 4017039A US 54533975 A US54533975 A US 54533975A US 4017039 A US4017039 A US 4017039A
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United States
Prior art keywords
air
conduit
vehicle
passage
pump
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US05/545,339
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English (en)
Inventor
Marion R. Carstens
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Georgia Tech Research Institute
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Georgia Tech Research Institute
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Georgia Tech Research Institute filed Critical Georgia Tech Research Institute
Priority to US05/545,339 priority Critical patent/US4017039A/en
Priority to NL7600675A priority patent/NL7600675A/xx
Priority to FR7602277A priority patent/FR2299249A1/fr
Priority to GB3391/76A priority patent/GB1508512A/en
Priority to ZA469A priority patent/ZA76469B/xx
Priority to IT67203/76A priority patent/IT1057090B/it
Priority to DE19762603568 priority patent/DE2603568A1/de
Priority to AU10674/76A priority patent/AU495566B2/en
Priority to JP51009192A priority patent/JPS5915854B2/ja
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US4017039A publication Critical patent/US4017039A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G51/00—Conveying articles through pipes or tubes by fluid flow or pressure; Conveying articles over a flat surface, e.g. the base of a trough, by jets located in the surface
    • B65G51/04—Conveying the articles in carriers having a cross-section approximating that of the pipe or tube; Tube mail systems
    • B65G51/08—Controlling or conditioning the operating medium

Definitions

  • the manner in which the air is caused to flow within the system can affect certain characteristics of the system. For example, if the air flow is maintained by a series of spaced apart pumps which each withdraw a fraction of the system air and reintroduce it at locally increased velocity (i.e. as a jet) a continuous movement of the vehicles as they pass these jet pumps can be achieved but the pumping efficiency is relatively restricted.
  • the pumping efficiency can be increased significantly by employing full flow pumps wherein each pump handles the air at a mass rate of flow somewhat in excess of that mass rate of flow at which the air is moving in the system.
  • the present system involves an air flow control device associated with a full flow pump station and positioned normally in blocking relation to the conduit so as to prevent reverse air flow between the pump discharge to its inlet but which is moved automatically to unblocking position incident to vehicle approach.
  • the control device is pivotally suspended at the end of a short passage defined between the inlet and the outlet of the pump and entry of a vehicle into this passage creates an air pressure surge which imparts angular momentum to the device.
  • aerodynamic lift is imparted to it by reason of its movement into the pump discharge air stream, thus aiding in the opening movement of the device to its unblocking position in which position unimpeded progress of the vehicle beneath and past the control device is possible.
  • the location of the control device, its disposition relative to the pump discharge stream when in unblocking position, the use of counterweighting force, and the effect of the pump discharge air stream acting upon the vehicle after the latter passes beyond the control device all cooperate to effect a smooth, automatic and positive action on the control device.
  • the control device operating within the system is characterized by having two stable positions, one of which is a closed position and the other of which is an open position.
  • the associated pump acts as a full flow device developing a pressure condition downstream of the control device which keeps it closed.
  • a vehicle enters the passage blocked by the control device it creates a pressurized cushion of air ahead of it and thereby imparts opening impetus to the control device and it moves into the air stream being discharged by the pump whereby an aerodynamic lift is created on the control device serving to aid the opening action.
  • the control device passes through a partially open but unstable zero-crossing position in which the summation of moments acting upon it is zero and thereafter reaches an open, stable zero-crossing position in which it will clear the vehicle passing beneath it.
  • control device causes the pump to act as a jet-type pump discharging the air at high velocity in a generally axial downstream fashion.
  • the stability of the control device at its open position is upset and the control device automatically returns to its closed position.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a portion of the system according to the present as illustrating the control device in its closed, stable position;
  • FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the manner in which the control device is moved automatically to its upper, stable position;
  • FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 but showing the vehicle after its passage beyond the control device and illustrating the automatic closing of the control device;
  • FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating moments acting upon the control device at various positions thereof.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating one manner of imposing an external moment upon the control device.
  • a conduit means is indicated generally by the reference character 10 which generally is in the form of an elongate tube which may be disposed in a closed path along which one or more vehicles are traveled. Details of suitable conduit means are disclosed in my prior applications Ser. No. 193,377 filed Oct. 28, 1971 for "Device to Stop and to Change Directions of Vehicle in Capsule-Transport Pipeline", now U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,691 issued Apr. 3, 1973 and Ser. No. 365,051 filed May 30, 1973 for "Pump for Use in a Capsule Transport-Pipeline", now U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,425, incorporated herein by reference.
  • the conduit 12 proper is of generally uniform cross-sectional shape and of generally constant area which is somewhat larger than the cross-sectional area of the vehicles such as the vehicle 14 shown in FIG. 2 which pass through the conduit means along the path defined thereby.
  • the vehicles are blunt at either or both ends so as to provide a high coefficient of drag for the air flowing within the system so that the vehicles are swept along with and by the air stream.
  • Pump means is associated with the conduit means in the form of a series of by-pass pumps such as the pump 16 diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 1 - 3.
  • the pump as shown in FIG. 1 operates in a branch 18 parallel with the branch 20 which latter forms a passage 22 forming a part of the path along which the vehicle is traveled.
  • the branch section 20 may be of slightly smaller cross-sectional area than the main conduit sections for a purpose which will be presently apparent.
  • air pressure acting against the downstream side of the plate 54 effects a net moment about the axis 32 tending to maintain the device 30 in the stable, closed position as is illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • the branch 20 and in particular the passage section 22 defined thereby is in effect a dead air space, the system air in its entirety passing through and being handled by the pump means 16.
  • the pump means 16 operates upon the mass rate of air flowing in the system which, in the absence of the closed control device 30, would create a reverse flow of air within the conduit branch section 20 and, under these conditions, the pump is operating under full flow pumping conditions in contrast to the jet-type of pumping condition which can be best explained in conjunction with FIG. 2.
  • the control device 30 is shown in its upper, open stable condition which has been attained in the manner presently to be described. With the control device 30 in the position shown in FIG. 2, the discharge stream from the pump means 16 has been restricted such that the discharged air issues as a higher velocity stream than would occur when the pump is operating as in FIG. 1, the increased velocity component being symbolically indicated by the arrow 36.
  • This jet stream of increased velocity is directed essentially axially downstream into the conduit section 28 wherein the velocity component ultimately will be transformed into a pressure component under the equilibrium conditions of the system.
  • the vehicle 14 After the vehicle 14 has passed beyond the control device 30 as is shown in FIG. 3, and enters the downstream conduit section 28, it achieves the conversion of the velocity component of the jet stream to a corresponding pressure component immediately in the region of the control device 30 which, acting in consonance with a corresponding decrease of aerodynamic lift acting on the control device 30, as hereinafter described, creates the condition whereat the control device automatically closes behind the vehicle 14 as indicated by the arrow 38 in FIG. 3, ultimately to achieve the stable, closed position as illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • control device 30 As the vehicle enters the passage 22 when the control device 30 is in the closed position, a pressurized cushion of air is created ahead of it which overcomes the pressure differential normally tending to maintain the control device in the closed position, and imparts an angular momentum to the control device serving to move it in the open direction.
  • the control device moves into the stream of air being discharged by the pump means 16, an aerodynamic lifting force is created on it and, with relation to this, it is preferred that the control device 30 and more especially the plate 34 thereof be formed of airfoil cross-section so as to enhance the aerodynamic lift effect. If the design conditions are correct, as hereinafter particularly pointed out, the control device will continue in its upward movement until it reaches a stable, open position at which the summation of moments acting upon it is zero, such stable position being illustrated in FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 4 a simplified curve is shown which is a plot of moments acting upon the control device versus angular disposition of the control device.
  • the abscissa in FIG. 4 has its origin at the left-hand side at the point at which the control device is fully closed and, at the right-hand extremity there is indicated a 100% angular disposition of the control device which represents the maximum position which it could attain by reason of engaging against the roof of the branch section 18.
  • the open, stable position will be somewhat less of course than this 100% position.
  • the ordinate at the left-hand side of FIG. 4 indicates a negative torque-T 0 acting upon the control device in its closed condition and which is the summation of any gravity component acting upon the control device to close it plus the pressure differential acting across the control device maintaining it in closed condition minus any residual aerodynamic lift which may be acting on the control device.
  • This component is of course reacted by the physical stopping action operating against the control device 30 in its closed condition.
  • the moment-T 0 is that moment which the pressurized air cushion ahead of the vehicle entering the section 20 must overcome to impart impetus to the control device so as to start it moving in the opening direction.
  • the pressure differential across it disappears and the aerodynamic lifting effect progressively increases at least initially but of course the gravity component increases progressively, the summation of which ultimately reaches, for the condition shown, the peak point P which represents a minimum or torque condition tending to close the control device.
  • the point P for the left-hand ordinate in FIG. 4 represents a minimum torque condition only because the scale of the left-hand ordinate as shown is such that the zero moment point 0 arbitrarily has been chosen to exist in that position shown.
  • Other and different conditions could prevail but ordinarily will not prevail unless some external counteracting moment is applied to the control device such as that illustrated in FIG. 5.
  • the shaft 40 which is attached to the control device and forms the pivot axis therefor is shown as having an extension provided, externally of the conduit means with a pulley 42 having a cable 44 wrapped partially therearound and anchored at one end thereto and carrying, at its other end, a counterweight W.
  • a counterweight W Such an arrangement will impose an external counterweighting torque in the direction of opening the control device 30 and, as is shown in the right-hand ordinate of FIG. 4, may be chosen to position the point at which the moment summation is zero such that the curve has two zero crossing points as indicated at Z 1 and Z 2 , respectively.
  • the first zero crossing point Z 1 is not a stable condition since any movement of the control device in the direction further to open it will create a positive moment which will continue the opening movement of the control device and conversely, any movement of the control device tending to close it will create a negative moment on the control device tending thereby to continue it in the closing direction.
  • the point Z 2 is a stable point since just the opposite of the above is true. That is to say, if the control device is moved beyond the stable position as indicated by the line 42 a negative moment is created on it tending to return it to the stable position and, conversely, movement of the control device from the stable point Z 2 in the closing direction will impart a positive moment thereon tending to return it to the stable position Z 2 .
  • the closing condition achieved automatically after the vehicle has passed the control device is a function not only of the conversion of the velocity component of the air stream to a pressure component in the immediate region of the control device 30, but also principally by virtue of the fact that the aerodynamic lifting moment is sharply decreased by virtue of the decreased velocity of the jet stream issuing from the pump means and impinging against the vehicle.
  • the condition which creates the automatic closing once the vehicle has passed the control device and enters the main section 28 of the conduit means is a function then of the velocity and pressure conditions created by the pump means 16, and the air flow through the pump means 16 must be adjusted as by throttling to achieve the requisite action which creates the automatic closing condition.
  • the control device 30 itself should be of minimal moment of inertia about its pivot axis 32 and, to this end, a hollow structural configuration thereof employing lightweight materials is preferred.
  • a hollow structural configuration thereof employing lightweight materials is preferred.
  • an open, aluminum framework covered with snythetic resinous material is particularly suitable for the control device.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
  • Aerodynamic Tests, Hydrodynamic Tests, Wind Tunnels, And Water Tanks (AREA)
  • Refuse Collection And Transfer (AREA)
  • Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)
US05/545,339 1975-01-30 1975-01-30 Vehicle transport pipeline pumping system Expired - Lifetime US4017039A (en)

Priority Applications (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US05/545,339 US4017039A (en) 1975-01-30 1975-01-30 Vehicle transport pipeline pumping system
NL7600675A NL7600675A (nl) 1975-01-30 1976-01-22 Transportinrichting voor dragers door een pijp- leiding door middel van verpompte lucht.
GB3391/76A GB1508512A (en) 1975-01-30 1976-01-28 Transportation system
ZA469A ZA76469B (en) 1975-01-30 1976-01-28 Improvements in or relating to transportation systems
FR7602277A FR2299249A1 (fr) 1975-01-30 1976-01-28 Systeme de transport de vehicules
IT67203/76A IT1057090B (it) 1975-01-30 1976-01-29 Sistema di trasporto comprendente veicoli a ruote spinti pneumaticamente in un tubo di convogliamento
DE19762603568 DE2603568A1 (de) 1975-01-30 1976-01-30 Rohrleitung-transportanlage
AU10674/76A AU495566B2 (en) 1975-01-30 1976-01-30 Vehicle transport pipeline pumping system
JP51009192A JPS5915854B2 (ja) 1975-01-30 1976-01-30 運搬具搬送パイプライン

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US05/545,339 US4017039A (en) 1975-01-30 1975-01-30 Vehicle transport pipeline pumping system

Publications (1)

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US4017039A true US4017039A (en) 1977-04-12

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US05/545,339 Expired - Lifetime US4017039A (en) 1975-01-30 1975-01-30 Vehicle transport pipeline pumping system

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US4017039A (OSRAM)
JP (1) JPS5915854B2 (OSRAM)
DE (1) DE2603568A1 (OSRAM)
FR (1) FR2299249A1 (OSRAM)
GB (1) GB1508512A (OSRAM)
IT (1) IT1057090B (OSRAM)
NL (1) NL7600675A (OSRAM)
ZA (1) ZA76469B (OSRAM)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4207018A (en) * 1978-11-07 1980-06-10 The British Hydromechanics Research Association Fluid pressurizing station for a pipeline conveyor
US5193462A (en) * 1989-09-26 1993-03-16 Marcu Mihail I Tubular roller coaster
US20040079257A1 (en) * 2001-03-03 2004-04-29 Scott Tidmarsh Thomas John Vehicular linear pneumatic propulsion system
US20040244635A1 (en) * 2003-06-05 2004-12-09 Flightrail Inc. Elevated transportation system
US20090101040A1 (en) * 2005-04-15 2009-04-23 Nanzheng Yang Tube car, network of tubes, personal transport system, and control system and control method thereof
US20100083864A1 (en) * 2008-10-08 2010-04-08 Patrick Joseph Flynn Pneutrain pneumatic mass transportation system
US20110283914A1 (en) * 2009-12-17 2011-11-24 Sam-Young Kwon Vacuum division management system of tube railway system and vacuum barrier film device
US20140338557A1 (en) * 2013-05-14 2014-11-20 Bo Zhou Circulated Pneumatic Tube Transit System
US20160152420A1 (en) * 2009-10-02 2016-06-02 Blak & Sørensen Aps Pneumatic transport system
US11130504B2 (en) * 2018-11-23 2021-09-28 Aerom Representações E Participações Ltda. Pneumatic propulsion system for high capacity transport of passengers and/or cargo

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL7610441A (nl) * 1975-11-03 1977-05-05 Georgia Tech Res Inst Transportinrichting d.m.v. druklucht met kleppenbesturing.
GB2150518A (en) * 1983-11-30 1985-07-03 James Arthur Noon Pneumatic tube conveyor system

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1753987A (en) * 1927-02-15 1930-04-08 Deutsche Telephonwerk Kabel Tubular postal system
DE1183443B (de) * 1962-05-07 1964-12-10 Standard Elektrik Lorenz Ag Fahrrohrklappe fuer Rohrpostanlagen zum Trennen zweier Fahrrohrabschnitte unterschiedlicher Luftdruecke
US3438337A (en) * 1968-04-10 1969-04-15 Lawrence K Edwards High-speed ground transportation system
US3469340A (en) * 1967-07-12 1969-09-30 Jack L Breneman Pneumatic toy vehicle propulsion system
US3797405A (en) * 1971-05-04 1974-03-19 Georgia Tech Res Inst Mass transportation system

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1753987A (en) * 1927-02-15 1930-04-08 Deutsche Telephonwerk Kabel Tubular postal system
DE1183443B (de) * 1962-05-07 1964-12-10 Standard Elektrik Lorenz Ag Fahrrohrklappe fuer Rohrpostanlagen zum Trennen zweier Fahrrohrabschnitte unterschiedlicher Luftdruecke
US3469340A (en) * 1967-07-12 1969-09-30 Jack L Breneman Pneumatic toy vehicle propulsion system
US3438337A (en) * 1968-04-10 1969-04-15 Lawrence K Edwards High-speed ground transportation system
US3797405A (en) * 1971-05-04 1974-03-19 Georgia Tech Res Inst Mass transportation system

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4207018A (en) * 1978-11-07 1980-06-10 The British Hydromechanics Research Association Fluid pressurizing station for a pipeline conveyor
US5193462A (en) * 1989-09-26 1993-03-16 Marcu Mihail I Tubular roller coaster
US20040079257A1 (en) * 2001-03-03 2004-04-29 Scott Tidmarsh Thomas John Vehicular linear pneumatic propulsion system
US7011029B2 (en) * 2001-03-03 2006-03-14 Thomas John Scott Tidmarsh Vehicular linear pneumatic propulsion system
US20040244635A1 (en) * 2003-06-05 2004-12-09 Flightrail Inc. Elevated transportation system
US7225743B2 (en) * 2003-06-05 2007-06-05 Flight Rail Corporation Elevated rail transportation system
US8006625B2 (en) * 2005-04-15 2011-08-30 Nanzheng Yang Tube car, network of tubes, personal transport system, and control system and control method thereof
US20090101040A1 (en) * 2005-04-15 2009-04-23 Nanzheng Yang Tube car, network of tubes, personal transport system, and control system and control method thereof
US20100083864A1 (en) * 2008-10-08 2010-04-08 Patrick Joseph Flynn Pneutrain pneumatic mass transportation system
US8146508B2 (en) * 2008-10-08 2012-04-03 Patrick Joseph Flynn Pneumatic mass transportation system
US20160152420A1 (en) * 2009-10-02 2016-06-02 Blak & Sørensen Aps Pneumatic transport system
US9688485B2 (en) * 2009-10-02 2017-06-27 Blak & Sørensen Aps Pneumatic transport system
US20110283914A1 (en) * 2009-12-17 2011-11-24 Sam-Young Kwon Vacuum division management system of tube railway system and vacuum barrier film device
US8468949B2 (en) * 2009-12-17 2013-06-25 Korea Railroad Research Institute Vacuum division management system and vacuum blocking screen device for tube railway system
US20140338557A1 (en) * 2013-05-14 2014-11-20 Bo Zhou Circulated Pneumatic Tube Transit System
US8915192B2 (en) * 2013-05-14 2014-12-23 Bo Zhou Circulated pneumatic tube transit system
US11130504B2 (en) * 2018-11-23 2021-09-28 Aerom Representações E Participações Ltda. Pneumatic propulsion system for high capacity transport of passengers and/or cargo

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2299249A1 (fr) 1976-08-27
AU1067476A (en) 1977-08-04
NL7600675A (nl) 1976-08-03
JPS5915854B2 (ja) 1984-04-12
FR2299249B3 (OSRAM) 1979-04-27
JPS51100587A (OSRAM) 1976-09-04
IT1057090B (it) 1982-03-10
DE2603568A1 (de) 1976-08-05
GB1508512A (en) 1978-04-26
ZA76469B (en) 1977-01-26

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